Camel Lake Fishing near Grayling, Michigan

• Overview

  Camel Lake is a Crawford County water, in Michigan. It lies 1,184 feet above sea level. Grayling lies 7.9 miles from the water. Further out sit Mancelona (17 miles) and Gaylord (18 miles). Close by you also have: May Lake at 0.3 miles, Cranberry Lake within 1.5 miles, Sand Hill Lake at 3.7 miles, Glory Lake within 4.6 miles and Bright Lake at 4.7 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Camel Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Crawford County list white sucker, rock bass and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Camel Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 17°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Anyone fishing Camel Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is May Lake, 0.3 miles out. Signs at Camel Lake carry more weight than any list.